Vasilyuk Wins 2025 Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature

The Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature, in association with the National Library of Israel, proudly announces Sasha Vasilyuk as the 2025 winner for her debut novel, “Your Presence Is Mandatory” (Bloomsbury Publishing). Inspired by her own family history, Vasilyuk’s novel explores the hidden costs of war, the legacy of silence and the complex moral terrain of Jewish life in the Soviet Union and post-Soviet Ukraine.

The $100,000 premier annual award honors the exceptional work of emerging writers in the examination and transmission of Jewish life, culture and identity.

“I wrote this novel to honor voices nearly lost to silence and am immensely grateful and humbled that the Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature is paying tribute to this complicated history and the people who lived it,” said Vasilyuk.

“As Jewish communities worldwide face renewed threats and dangerous distortions, it is especially meaningful to recognize writers who confront these challenges with honesty, depth and imagination,” said George Rohr. “Our family is proud to honor Sasha Vasilyuk, together with this year’s outstanding finalists, whose work demonstrates how literature can illuminate the Jewish experience and expand the conversation around it.”

“Sasha Vasilyuk’s remarkable achievement lies in her ability to weave the personal and historical into a narrative that speaks across generations,” said Debra Goldberg, director of the Sami Rohr Prize. “The diverse voices of this year’s winner and finalists celebrate the vibrant future of Jewish literature, deepening our engagement with the past while charting new directions for expression.”